Molly Meldrum critical after fall

THE Australian music industry legend Molly Meldrum was last night gravely ill in hospital after falling from a ladder and hitting his head.

Meldrum, 65, is believed to have been putting up Christmas decorations for a party this Sunday when he fell, hitting his head on tiles next to the swimming pool at his inner-city Melbourne home in Richmond. He sustained swelling to the brain and a chest injury.

Paramedics were called to the house about 6.40pm. ''He was unconscious when we arrived,'' an Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said. ''He has been placed in an induced coma and taken to The Alfred Hospital in a critical condition.''
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Meldrum's manager, Mark Klemens, said the next 24 hours would be critical. Garry Spry, who said he had been friends with Meldrum for several decades, said Meldrum's brother Brian was by his side.